Movable kiosks firmly grounded in Quepem

Johnny M
Quepem: Although movable gaddas (kiosks) have been proliferating in Quepem, with over 16 occupying prime spots for several years, lack of corrective action by the Quepem Municipal Council (QMC) and other authorities has piqued citizens.
Such kiosks, which are actually required to be moved to their respective owners’ residences after dark, have become permanent fixtures in the Quepem market area, near the Amona junction and at the Tilamol junction.A few of them also occupy parking slots, causing hardships to motorists.
The QMC collects sopo (tax) from the owners of such kiosks on a daily basis, despite the fact that not a single one has a licence to park at one particular site permanently, locals alleged. Some are even missing wheels, leading citizens to question how they could have been permitted to operate without a prior inspection.
In 1996-97, pursuant to a high court order, the QMC demolished/displaced several gaddas. Nineteen years on, the affected vendors are yet to be rehabilitated. The civic body, in a March 2000 resolution, agreed to acquire land under survey number 170 for their rehabilitation and subsequently forwarded the proposal to the deputy town planner for incorporation into the master plan. Now, however, a private building is being constructed in the area.
“I used to support my entire family with the money I earned from my gadda. But, after it was demolished, the QMC failed to allot me a new place even as new, movable kiosks are permanently being stationed at prime places in the town under the nose of the authorities,” a displaced gadda owner lamented.
The civic body, in an earlier undertaking, had assured the high court that the demolished gaddas would be rehabilitated in the municipal area. Subsequently, however, the chief officer informed the court that the town and country planning (TCP) department was unable to approve the municipal council’s plan as part of the proposed area was reserved as setback for road widening. Some gaddas now operate on this setback itself.
Quepem resident, advocate Fredrick Pereira, told STOI that if the municipality failed to act against the illegal gaddas, he would seek the intervention of the high court of Bombay at Goa in the matter.